Cheesy Bacon & Salami Pasta Bake
There are some nights when the thought of going to the supermarket feels like far too much effort.
Winter has officially arrived here and with the colder weather comes a strong urge to stay home, put on something comfortable and make a meal that warms everyone up from the inside out.
This Cheesy Bacon & Salami Pasta Bake was created on one of those nights. With four hungry mouths to feed, I took a look through the pantry and fridge to see what I could make with what I already had on hand.
Thankfully, there was pasta in the pantry, bacon and salami in the fridge and enough pantry staples to create a rich, creamy sauce. Topped with plenty of cheese and baked until golden and bubbling, it became the ultimate comforting family dinner.
It ended up receiving a 10/10 from everyone around the table and there were even leftovers for lunch the next day, which is always a bonus!
If you're looking for more cosy family dinners, you'll also love my Chicken Katsu Curry. And if easy, family-friendly meals are your thing, my Easy Weeknight Dinners eBook is packed with simple recipes to help make busy nights a little easier.
More Dinner Recipes You’ll Love
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Uses simple ingredients you may already have in your pantry and fridge.
Feeds the family and still leaves leftovers for lunch the next day.
Perfect for cold nights when you need a comforting dinner.
Budget-friendly and a great way to use ingredients you already have on hand.
Easy to customise with whatever meats, vegetables or cheese you have available.
Variations for Cheesy Bacon & Salami Pasta Bake
Add baby spinach before baking.
Stir through cooked mushrooms or capsicum.
Add shredded roast chicken.
Use hot salami for extra flavour.
Add chilli flakes for a spicy version.
How To Store Cheesy Bacon & Salami Pasta Bake
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Individual portions can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat until piping hot.
FAQ
Can I make this pasta bake ahead of time?
Yes. Assemble the pasta bake up to 24 hours ahead, cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.
What pasta works best?
Trivelle, penne, spirals, rigatoni and shells all work beautifully.
Can I freeze leftovers?
Absolutely. Freeze individual portions for quick lunches or easy dinners later.
Cheesy Bacon & Salami Pasta Bake
This Cheesy Bacon & Salami Pasta Bake is the ultimate family dinner. Loaded with bacon, salami, rich tomato sauce and melted cheese, it's perfect for busy weeknights and leftovers the next day.
Ingredients
- 500g dried pasta (I used San Remo Trivelle)
- 6 shortcut bacon rashers (approximately 180g), diced
- 100g mild salami, diced
- 1 brown onion, finely diced
- 8 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tbsp tomato paste (40g)
- 250ml (1 cup) chicken stock
- 1 x 500g jar tomato and basil pasta sauce
- 1 x 280g jar Mutti Pizza Sauce Aromatica
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp paprika
- 60ml (¼ cup) thickened cream
- 250-300g grated cheese of choice
- Chopped parsley, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C fan force.
- Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta 10-12 minutes, until al dente. Drain well.
- Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat.
- Add the bacon, salami and onion. Cook for 5-6 minutes until softened and lightly golden.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir through the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in the chicken stock and stir well to combine.
- Add the tomato and basil pasta sauce, pizza sauce, brown sugar and paprika. Stir well and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Stir through the cream.
- Add the cooked pasta and stir until evenly coated in the sauce.
- Sprinkle generously with grated cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted, golden and bubbling.
- Allow the pasta bake to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired.
- Serve with garlic bread or a simple green salad.
Notes
TOP TIPS:
- Don't overcook the pasta: Cook it just shy of al dente as it will continue cooking while baking.
- Don't skip the cream: The cream balances the acidity of the tomato sauces and creates a richer, silkier finish.
- Make it extra cheesy: Stir a handful of grated mozzarella through the pasta before topping with cheese.
- Use what you have: Swap the salami for pepperoni, hot salami, chorizo or leftover ham.
- Meal prep friendly: This reheats beautifully for lunch the next day and tastes even better once the flavours have developed.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
799Fat
38 gSat. Fat
17 gCarbs
82 gFiber
7 gNet carbs
75 gSugar
14 gProtein
32 gSodium
1469 mgCholesterol
86 mgThe nutritional information provided is computer generated and is only an estimate. This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.
Raw Chocolate Fudge
Ingredients
- ½ cup Mayver’s Cacao Super Spread (see below for substitutions)
- ⅓ rice malt syrup
- ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
- 1-2 tablespoons cacao powder (or cocoa powder if preferred)
- 1 tablespoon tahini paste
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to the bowl and stir together.
- Spoon the mixture into a silicone mini muffin tray. Ensure the mixture fills to the top of the mini muffin holes.
- Place the silicone tray into the fridge for approximately 1-2 hours or until they are hard to touch, overnight is best.
- Carefully remove the chocolate fudge from the silicone tray and place on a serving plate.
Notes
- I use Mayver’s Cacao Super Spread. However if you can't find any, peanut butter, almond butter or hazelnut butter would be suitable substitutions.
- This recipe can be made in a square cake tin and sliced into squares once set. If you are using a square cake tin, make sure you have lined it with baking paper to ensure easy removal once the fudge has set. You can cut the set fudge into small bite sized square pieces
- To add an Easter touch, you could fill a silicone Easter themed tray with the fudge and set for a few hours or overnight.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
75.38Fat
7.66 gSat. Fat
5.53 gCarbs
1.6 gFiber
0.93 gNet carbs
0.67 gSugar
0.12 gProtein
0.96 gSodium
3.86 mgCholesterol
0 mgThe nutritional information provided is computer generated and is only an estimate. This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.
